On helping small businesses he said: "Under the last Labour government corporation tax was 28% - by the way they don't call it the last Labour government for nothing."

Mocking the man sat on the opposing benches, he added: "A well-functioning market economy is the best way to deliver prosperity and security to working families and the litany of failed attempts at state control of industry by Labour leave no-one in any doubt about that.

"Except, apparently, the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite, who is now so far down a black hole that even Stephen Hawking has disowned him."